Shade operating device for motor vehicles



March 27, 1934. w. R. KUNZ SHADE OPERATING DEVICE FOR MoToR VEHICLES Filed Aug.' 9, 1932 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES SHADE OPERATING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES William R. Kunz, Springfield, Mass.

Application August 9,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shade operating devices for motor vehicles.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for automatically raising and lowering a shade or curtain for use over the window located in the rear of a motor vehicle, for preventing the rays of light from the head lights of a following car from passing through the same and being reflected back from the mirror above and in front of the driver. The device is automatically operated from the drvers seat by means of the suction effect of the manifold, whereby, through suitable valves, the shade may be lowered, and, when desired, it can be re-wound onto the roller.

Means is also provided for manually operating the shade, independent of the suction, or vacuum effect, of the manifold.

The invention, broadly considered, comprises a tubular member on which the shade is wound; a tubular member located within the shade roller proper; a piston in the inner tubular member; cooperating means between the piston and the shade roller for rotating the same, when a longitudinal movement is imparted to the piston, and suitable valve construction for imparting a reciprocating motion to the piston, as will be fully described.

It is a well known fact that the bright rays from a following car are often the cause of accidents, due to the blinding effect of the rays reflected into the eyes of the driver of the car ahead.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the axis of the two tubular members, showing the connecting means, between the piston and shade roller, for rotating the same.

f Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the end of the parallel bars in section, the securing means for the same, and the shade roller in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing means for attaching the parallel bars to the slotted plate, through which the helical rods pass.

Fig. 4 is a View on the line 4-4 of Fig. l, showing the manner of attaching the coiled spring, which re-winds the curtain on the roller, when the vacuum is released.

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l, illustrating the retaining means for the operating valve, and

Fig. 6 is a View on the line 6-6 of Fig.. 1, showing the by-pass valve for controlling the vacuum.

Referring to the drawing in detail:

1 indicates the tubular roller, shown broken and on which the several turns, 2, of the shade 3,

1982, serialv No. 628,048 4 are wound. 4 and 5 indicate brackets, or supports, which rotatably support the roller 1, by means of the end pieces, 6 and 7, which turn on the pipe end 8 and the shaft 9, as shown. 10 indicates a tubular member',v which is shown broken 60v and located within the shade roller l, one end of which is ixedly secured to the pipe end 8, by means of the threaded plate 1l. Slidably located within the tubular member 10, is the piston 12, having attached thereto the parallel bars, 13 and 14, by means of the intermediate integral part 15, through which extends the threaded pin 16 that also secures the packing 1'7, and nuts 18, in place. 16 is a cotter pin. 19 indicates a rectangular opening formed in the part 19 in which is engaged the end of the bars 13 and 14 lby the threaded pin 16 and cotter pin 16'. The'oppo'site ends of theparallel bars 13 and 14 are bent inward andv secured to the plate 20 with the rivetsZl. This plate is formed with the notches, or recesses 22, at its opposite ends. (See Fig. 3.) Surrounding the bars 13 and 14, are the two helical-shaped wires 23 and 24, that are circular in cross section, as shown in Fig.3. These wires are flxedly secured to the inner surface of the shade roller 1, by soldering, or bracing, as indicated at 25, or any other suitable way, as by frictionalone.

Connected to the pipe end 8, is a pipe 26, which terminates in the casing 27, having the passageway 28. This casing is attached to the instrument board 29. 30 indicates a piston in the casing that is connected to the operating rod 3l, having the knob 32. Formed on the rod 81 are two lateral projections 33, that are designed to pass through the openings 34, when in alignment therewith, and operated to retain the piston 30 at the left hand end of its travel, in the space 35, when the operator partially rotatesthe rod 31, as will be explained in the operation of the apparatus. The port 28 is now open. The piston 30 is designed to open and close the opening 36, which leads to the opening 37, in which is located the loose Valve disc 38, for opening and closing the passage 36, that is connected by means of the pipe 40, to the manifold of the engine, (not shown) Located at the right hand of and within the roller 1, is a coiled spring member 41, for rotating the roller l when the shade is to be raised and after the vacuum effect is released. One end of this spring is secured to the fixed rod 9, indicated at 9', and its other coiled end is passed through openings in the iiange 42 o-f the disk 43` which turns on the shaft 9, that is secured to the bearing bracket 5.

the engine.

The operation may be described as follows, assuming the parts to be in the positions shown: the piston valve 30 normally closes the opening 36 to thepipe 40, that is connected to the manifold of The operator, by means of the knob 32, now moves the piston valve 30 in the direction of the arrow on the rod 31, permitting the projections 33 to pass reely through the openings 34. He then partially rotates the rod 31 to bring the projections out of alignment of the openings 34, for retaining the piston valve 30 in its open, or operative position. The passageway 23 is now open, thus connecting the pipe 26 to the manifold,

or, in direct communication. withv the suction ef'- fect, which is transmitted to the piston 12 inthe inner tubular member 10. Thisv piston is now moved towards the left hand carrying with it the parallel bars 13 and 14, thev helical members: 23 and 24 pass or slide freely through the recesses 22 in the end plate 20, whereby a rotary motion is transmitted to the shade'roller 1, through the action of these hel-ical members, 23 and.. 24, that are secured tothe shade roller. The shade 3 will nowbe unwound fromthe roller 1 and lowered. When it is desired to re-wind the shade on the roller 1the piston valve'() is'movedinto the position shown in Figure 1, permitting atmospheric; air tol enter thel space around the piston rod: 31, through the-opening 28, pipe 26, pipe end 8, into thevinner` tubular member l0, whereby the piston 118e will now return to its position, shown in Fig. 1, andi the shade-3- will be re-wcund. When the pressures on the opposite sidesof the loose valveV disk 38 are equal, it. willoccupy the middle position shown in` Fig. 1, but should they suction eiect decreasathe disk 38- will close the port 36 and retain the curtain 3: in a loweredfposition. Normally, the disk 38fcloses` the. passage 39 when the engine is operating, but thegroove 39 permits the apparatus to operate, as the shade rolling disk is smaller in diameter than the space 3'7 and the groove- 39 permits4 air to pass into the manifold.

'I-he coiled spring 41 permits the operator to manually -lower and raise the shade, by means When the shade is lowered, the spring is wound up and when the pull on the shade is released, this spring willv re-Wind the shade- 3. The shade may be drawn downward by hand by means. of the ring 3".

It should be stated that the present invention is believed to involve a new and original idea of providing means for operating a shade roller, independently of each other; either by thevacuum effect, or, manually. The manual drawing of the shade may be effected, when the vacuum fails or is insuncient. k

The coiled spring 41, it should be stated, will be wound up andr placed under tension, when the roller 1 is rotated by the vacuum eiiect. When the vacuum is released, by mcvingthe piston 30 into. the position shown in Fig. 1, the spring 41 will re-wind the shade.

What" I claim. is:-

1f..A device for operating a shade roller on which` a shade is wound, a stationary tubular member located within the shade roller, a piston in said member, communicating means between the piston and a suction device, a control valve insaid means, bars connected to the piston and slidably secured in said tubular member' to prevent rotation of the bars, a helical member located outside of the bars and secured tothe shade roller and piston, a plate secured to the bars and formed with an opening in which the helical member is engaged, whereby the shade on the roller willr be wound oiI of the same when the piston, bars and plate are actuated by the suction device.

2. In a shade-operating device, a roller to which the shade is secured, means for rotatably supporting the roller,` a xed tubular member within the. roller, communicating means between the tubular member and the manifold of an internal combustion engine, a piston in the said member, and connecting means between the piston and the roller for imparting rotary motion to the roller, saidV means comprising a helical member connected to the shade roller, a bar secured to said piston, and a slotted plate secured to said bar and engaged by the helical member, and valve means in the communicating means for controlling the suction effect.

3. A shade-operating mechanism comprising a rotatably-mountedA roller,l a shade-secured thereto, a stationary tubular member located within the roller, a piston therein, barmembers connected to the piston and slidably secured in said tubular memberl to prevent rotation, a slotted plate. connected. to the bar members, helical members secured to the roller and' each having a bearing` in a slot of the plate, communicating meansy between the piston and the manifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve device in said means ior opening and. closing the communication, and means forl retaining the valve device in its open position..

. In a device for operating the shade roller on which a shadeis wound', a tubularmemberlocated within the shade roller, a cupV member X- edly secured in an end of said.l tubular member, a piston. in saidA member, a vacuumV producing means, communicating means between the piston and; the sa-id vacuum means, a 'control valve in said means, bars connected to the piston and slidably guided' inl a slot formed in said cup member to. prevent-rotationy of said bars, helical members located outside of the bars and' secured. tothe the shade roller, a plate secured to the bars. and formed with. diametrically opposed notches in which the helical members are slidably engaged, whereby the roller will be rotated when the piston is actuatedv by the suction device.

5. In a device for operating a shade roller comprising, in combination with the roller, means for rotatably supporting the roller, a vacuum producing device, a xed tubular member in the roller, communicating means between the tubular member and the vacuum device, a piston in the tubular member, a cup-shaped` member secured to the piston and formed with an opening, parallel rods secured to the cup-shaped member and piston and extending through the opening in the cup-shaped member, a plate to which the opposite ends of the said rods are secured, the plate having notches in its edges, helical members secured to the inner surface of the roller, and located outside of the parallel bars, one of the ends ofthe helical members being located in the notches of ,the said plate, whereby, when a vacuum is produced in the tubular member the piston and bars will be reciprocated and impart a rotary motion to the'roller through the engagement of the said bars with helical members which are secured to the roller, and means for automatically rewinding the roller when the vacuum is released.

WILLIAM R. KUNZ. 

